THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE

February 23, 2005

Avestha ties up with US co Sequenom

Our Bureau

Bangalore, Feb 22

AVESTHA Gengraine Technologies P Ltd has announced a research collaboration with US-based genetics major Sequenom Inc, to jointly analyse Sequenom's proprietary panels of genetic markers to study diabetes, breast and lung cancers in Indian patients.

The collaboration could further validate Sequenom's genetic markers and improve the understanding of their role in the cause, progression and treatment of the disease, a release said.

The tie-up will be based on Sequenom's genetic analysis technologies and Avesthagen's knowledge in pharmacogenomics and functional genomics. To initiate the collaboration, Bangalore-based Avesthagen said it has purchased Sequenom's high performance genotyping system, said to be the first of its kind to be installed in the country.

"The collaboration may lead to important diagnostic and prognostic applications in the field of molecular medicine for diabetes, breast and lung cancer. The study should provide insight into the extent to which genetic markers, that predispose an individual to a higher disease risk, affect disease progression and therapeutic outcome," said Dr Villoo Morawala Patell, Avesthagen's Founder & CEO.

"India is a very exciting and rewarding place for performing genetic analysis of complex diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Comprehensive clinical data combined with the participation and goodwill of Indians and the clinical community provides an unparalleled basis for a successful research effort."